With the publication of its 11th edition, Schwartz’s Principles of Surgery celebrates its 50th anniversary. It is remarkable to consider the number of students, residents, fellows, surgeons, and patients who have benefitted from the collective knowledge compiled in this text over the last half-century. It is an honor for the current editorial board to carry forward the tradition of excellence in education established by Dr. Seymour Schwartz and previous editors. We recognize that surgeons have entered into an era of surgery in which the outcomes of operations and patient satisfaction scores are carefully monitored, demanding excellence through enhanced evidenced-based knowledge, patient-family–centered care, and the highest levels of professionalism. The first chapter on leadership has taken on special meaning in light of the new demands placed on surgeons for both technical and nontechnical skills, underscoring the importance of instituting a formal leadership-training program for surgery students of all ages with an emphasis on mentoring.
We have also entered into the dawn of a new era of surgery with advances in minimally invasive surgery using robots, molecular contrast, and full computerization, thus enhancing the safety of surgery and allowing surgeons a more comfortable environment in which to work. We recognize that the use of “omic” information is ushering in an era of precision surgery and the importance of surgeons, who have access to the tissues of the human body on a daily basis for “omic” profiling that will guide targeted therapies to enhance the outcomes of surgery. Taking these constructs into consideration, the editors and authors of this 11th edition have done their very best to revise each chapter and convey the current state-of-theart in surgery. Continuing in this effort, five new chapters have been added: Understanding and Evaluating Evidence for Surgical Practice, Enhanced Recovery after Surgery, Ambulatory/Outpatient Surgery, Skills and Simulation, and Web-based Education and Implications of Social Media. This edition contains the latest in leadership training, surgical science, surgical techniques, and therapy for students, residents, fellows, and surgeons. Another important component of this new edition is the artwork. We acknowledge the outstanding artistic team of Jason M. McAlexander & Associates who directed the full color art program, which provides clear and consistent learning aids throughout the text and visually reflects the comprehensive and updated nature of this book.
Originally posted 2021-07-21 11:49:25.
